After nearly two weeks on strike, the school bus drivers of OAPSE Local 184 have reached a four-year agreement with their employer, First Student Transportation. 

The bus drivers serve Cincinnati’s 6,000-student Princeton School District. They went on strike over lagging wages, lack of healthcare, and problems with employee retention, which their employer had long failed to address. 

AFSCME President Patrick Moran visited the picket line earlier this week to support and stand in solidarity with the drivers. 

“They’re standing up to corporate power and making sure that members get affordable healthcare and a living wage,” he said, referring to the fact that First Student does not provide affordable health benefits and many of its drivers must rely on Medicare or Medicaid. “We’re here, we’re standing with them, and we’re going to continue to stand with them.”

For over a year, the school bus drivers expressed frustration about wages so low that they barely covered the cost of gas to and from work.

Veteran driver Bobby Cornett said that he had to pay more than $150,000 out of pocket to cover the costs of necessary, life-saving surgeries he has required. 

The school bus drivers have enjoyed plenty of support from the community, including supportive honks and coffee being delivered. 

Princeton teachers stopped by on their way to work to show solidarity, and parents also advocated for a fair contract be reached to the school administration and First Student directly. 

The bus drivers’ solidarity and courage paid off. 

With the new contract, all drivers and monitors will earn a $500 signing bonus. Employees will earn hourly wage increases in each of the four years of the agreement, totaling an additional $8.50 per hour over the life of the contract. 

Bus driver Jammie Coburn is excited about the win. Not only will the wage increase help her and her fellow union members afford medical care, but it means she can get back to driving her students. 

“Parents understand that we’re the safest form of transportation. We get back to work because we have a rapport with the kids,” she said. “The kids miss us and we miss them.” 

Now, she’ll be reunited with her kids next Tuesday as OAPSE Local 184 head back to work after the major win.